IND vs NZ Live Score, Day 4, 1st Test: Rain continues Bengaluru; 2nd session start delayed; India 344/3

We are here with not-so good news as the forecast suggests there’s rain till 6 PM today. This could be it for the day. We’ll keep you updated. 

It looks like the rain has stopped now but it is still overcast. Umpires and team staff taking a walk on the ground. We could see action resuming soon. 

Lunch. Second session is expected to begin at noon if the weather gets better. 

Four to get to his half-century! Pant, who walked off the field on Day 2 after getting hit on the knee, has delivered for India at a crucial time. And that’s the end of play for now. It has started to rain in Bengaluru. 

Piling on the pressure. Brings up the 100-run partnership with a four! India now trails by 22 runs. Ravindra brought into the attack. Cheeky shot again and Conway does it again. Saves two runs. Lead down to 19 runs. 

On the shoulder and goes just over the slip. Takes two runs. Four off the over. Pant getting creative. Sarfarazing didn’t time that properly and drags it to deep mid-wicket. Another four-run over. 

Very overcast in Benglauru. Looks like it can rain any minute. Maiden over. Ajaz back and Pant welcomes him with a Six! And another one! Gets hit on the pads and umpire gives it. What a turnaround. Pant reviews it immediately. He knows better, huge edge. Pant is safe! Another review, this by NZ. And another edge. Smiles all around as the game has come alive. Fielder tried to dive for a catch at long off but bounces away to the ropes. What an over!

Ajaz back. Sarfaraz tried a paddle sweep but only got the top edge. Enough height on it but Conway does well to save two behind. Gets it right time. Four! A single to end the over. 

Glenn Phillips into the attack now. Three singles in that over. Drinks. 

Pant begins the Southee over with a massive SIX straight over the bowler’s head. Brilliant shot. And he ends the over with another four. A bit luck to as he gets a four past the second slip. 

Runs have dried a bit in the last 10 minutes. Pant is trying to break free against the spinner but hasn’t been able to time the ball well. 

Ajaz Patel into the attack. Just a single in that over. 

Southee. Century for Sarfaraz Khan!! Punches off the backfoot towards cover and gets a boundary. What a way to get to his maiden Test hundred. He reaches the milestone in 110 balls. 

Henry. Massive miscommunication between Pant and Sarfaraz. Sarfaraz plays the ball towards deep third. Pant wanted a second, but Sarfaraz screams no but Pant keeps running for the second. Blundell grabs the ball but doesn’t see batting end is vacant. Pant is back in the crease and New Zealand are shocked. Pant hits over mid on and gets a boundary. 

Southee into the attack. The gully fielder is pretty close to Sarfaraz, almost a suicidal slip. 

Henry. Keeper is up for Pant. Fuller ball, Pant opens the face and the ball goes in between the legs of the slip fielder for four! Trail is now less than 100 runs. FOUR! Sarfaraz plays another late cut past second slip. 

O’Rourke. Close fifth stump, Sarfaraz once again goes for the cut, gets a very fine edge that goes between keeper and second slip for four. 

Henry. Pant is off the mark with a single. Sarfaraz plays the late cut again, deep point fielder dives and might have touched the rope. Third umpire checks and confirms it’s a four. 

William O’Rourke from the other end. Wide and short, Sarfaraz upper cuts it for four! Nice way to begin the over. Another width on offer and Sarfaraz once again cuts it, this time from the right of gully for four. 

Rishabh Pant has come out to bat with Sarfaraz Khan. 

Matt Henry to begin proceedings today. Sarfaraz takes a single off fifth ball and brings Pant on strike. Pant defends. 

Rachin Ravindra became the first New Zealand batter since 2012 to score a Test hundred in India. The last player to do so was Ross Taylor when he scored 113 off 127 balls at the same venue. 

After a whopping 453 runs were scored on the third day of the first Test between India and New Zealand here at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Kuldeep Yadav said the pitch didn’t offer much turn and the ground dimensions didn’t help.

IND vs NZ, 1st Test: Kuldeep rues lack of turn off the pitch after run-fest on Day 3

The 453 runs scored on the day was only second on the list of the most prolific days in Test cricket in India, with 470 at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai being the record.

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IND vs NZ: Virat Kohli becomes fourth Indian batter to score 9000 Test runs

Virat Kohli became the fourth Indian batter to score 9000 Test runs during the first match between India and New Zealand at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday.

There is a good chance of rain affecting today’s game. It is currently overcast and even raining in some parts of the city. The forecast shows continuous showers throughout the day. 

The 453 runs scored on day 3 was only second on the list of the most prolific days in Test cricket in India, with 470 at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai being the record. 

“It was difficult to control runs on this wicket. Even the good deliveries were being hit. There wasn’t much turn off the pitch. Maybe because it was damp yesterday, today it had become hard. This ground also has a history. It is a small ground, and runs are easily scored here,” Kuldeep Yadav said after day’s play. 

“No rain, but an overcast morning. There were some overnight showers,” Dhruva Prasad with an important update. 

Virat Kohli’s wicket off the final ball gives New Zealand a slight advantage ahead of the fourth day. 

Here’s Dhruva Prasad’s report from third day: 

IND vs NZ, 1st Test, Day 3: Virat Kohli wicket off last ball leaves bitter aftertaste as India tries to mount comeback

Rachin Ravindra shines with a century as New Zealand dominates India in a historic Test match at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

- New Zealand quick wickets early in the day before Rachin Ravindra and Tim Southee put on century-plus stand for the eighth wicket. 

- Ravindra scored his century and Southee hit a fifty as the Kiwis took 356-run lead. 

- Indian openers provide a better start. Rohit Sharma goes on to make a half-century. 

- Sarfaraz Khan and Virat Kohli share 136-run partnership for third wicket. Both score fifties. 

- Kohli gets out off the last ball of the day. India still trails by 125 runs with seven wickets in hand. 

Welcome to the live coverage of the fourth day of the opening Test between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru. Stay tuned for the live updates.